Saudi men ‘show’ their support to end violence against women

09/02/2017

The Alwaleed Philanthropies offi cials at the Al-Janadriyah Festival

RIYADH, Feb 9: Alwaleed Philanthropies (AP), chaired by HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, announces its participation in the 31st Al-Janadriyah National Festival of Heritage and Culture as a strategic partner. Organized by the Ministry of National Guard, the event began on Wednesday February 1, 2017 and will remain through Friday February 17, 2017 at the Al-Janadriyah district, northeast of Riyadh.

In an age where women strive for positive representation in the media, Alwaleed Philanthropies works towards educating the public on legal protection for women through its work with the Wa’iyah legal program. By using a “magic mirror”, visitors are able to experience the reality of the horrific physical consequences resulting from domestic abuse.

Additionally, videos are displayed to show the personal journey of these women and their struggles. It is noteworthy that a near majority of Saudi men were observed interacting with the simulation of violence against women, and inquired about their roles in confronting the problem and helping the abused. Online-users are encouraged to end gender- based violence by visiting www.1919. life Additionally, a “touch to feel” wall has been placed to demonstrate the below zero temperatures that Syrian refugees endure in the winter along with an interactive display of Syrian refugee journeys.

The goal of the experience was to spread awareness on the refugee crisis and drive donations to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) through the campaign website www. TweetforHeat.com “Through Art and on-ground simulations, we were able to turn complex ideas into simple messages and experiences that touch people’s emotions and encourage them to address the problems facing women today. AP’s participation in Al-Janadriyah this year highly depends on the participation of Saudi youth, men and women equally. We were glad to see Saudi youth volunteering for Alwaleed Philanthropies through the Saudi Scout Foundation,” said Ms Shahad Al Mufti, Media & Communications representative at Alwaleed Philanthropies.

This year, Alwaleed Philanthropies is highlighting its work in community development, disaster relief, women & youth empowerment, and promoting dialogue and tolerance amongst different religions. Through a number of unique and diverse activities, AP works to connect people and ideas as well as provide resources to help solve global problems and improve the search for sustainable solutions. Through its on-ground simulations, visitors are able to touch, watch, read, and interact with Syrian refugees as well as with victimized women.

In last year’s 30th Al-Janadriyah festival, Alwaleed Philanthropies supported Saudi Productive Families and young Saudi entrepreneurs, between the ages of 16-30 years old, who offer local products on Instagram. The participants benefited from the festival by displaying their products and promoting their talents in the “Insta-shop” space – a section dedicated to young Saudi vendors who utilize technology to develop entrepreneurial skills.

For over 37 years, Alwaleed Philanthropies supports and initiates projects in 124 countries regardless of gender, race, or religion. It collaborates with a range of philanthropic, governmental, and educational organizations to combat poverty, empower women and youth, develop communities, provide disaster relief and create cultural understanding through education. Together, we can build bridges for a more compassionate, tolerant, and accepting world.